Titans hope depth means fresh DEs

Only two NFL teams – the Titans and the New Orleans Saints – featured two defensive ends that played more than 900 snaps in 2012.

Those two teams also happened to give up the most points in the league last year so, coincidence or not, neither club is likely interested in repeating that formula.

The Titans have tried to remedy their depth problem at defensive end by signing 6-8, 315-pound defensive end Ropati Pitoitua, drafting 6-4, 277-pound defensive end Lavar Edwards and re-signing 6-3, 265-pound Keyunta Dawson, who missed most of last year with injury.

In addition, 6-3, 262-pound defensive end Scott Solomon will have another year under his belt and 6-3, 280-pound defensive tackle Karl Klug could factor in the mix at end as well.

All of which should be good news for Titans starting defensive ends Derrick Morgan, who was on the field for 914 plays last season (81 percent of all defensive snaps), and Kamerion Wimbley, who was on the field for 910 plays last year (also 81 percent of all defensive snaps).

Solomon saw the third-most snaps of all Titans’ defensive ends last year, and he was only on the field for 168 plays (15 percent of all defensive snaps).

To compare the Titans’ starters’ totals to another “4-3” team, consider that neither of Chicago’s two starting defensive ends – Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije – were on the field for even 800 snaps.

“I think having more guys in the rotation helps keep players’ legs fresh, which in turn should lead to an increase in productivity,” Wimbley said. “So I believe when we’re out there and refreshed, we can go full speed the whole play. You don’t take any plays off, knowing you have depth, and if any injury occurs, you know you have people behind you who can come in and play and there won’t be any drop-off on the defense.”

Morgan hopes the defensive end depth will lead to a system more like 2011, when the Titans shuffled all their defensive line personnel on a more frequent basis.

“I mean, I want to be on the field at all times and I want to play the run and the pass,” Morgan said. “I love playing football. But there’s times where you get to that point of exhaustion where you’re not being as effective as you could be if you were fresh, so there’s a time and a place for that.

“In the bigger picture, you can’t be selfish and stay on the field when other guys are ready to get on the field and make plays. So it’s a good situation to have those options.”

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